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THE  RELATIVE  POSITIONS  AND  DUTIES  OF 

THE  CLERGY  AND  LAITY; 


A 


CHARGE 


sin  @iyiai£(g'^r 

OF  THE  DIOCESE  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA, 

AT  THE  TWENTY-FIFTH  ANNUAL  CONVENTION, 
In  St*  James's  Church,  \Vilmington, 
MAY  9th,  1841. 


PUBLISHED  BY  REQUEST  OF  THE  CONVENTION. 


FAYETTE VII. LE  : 


PRINTED  BY  EDWARD  J.  HALE, 


1841. 


0 


> 


As  YOUR  WATCHMAN  IN  CHIEF,  AND  CHARGED  WITH  ALL  THE 
INTEREST  OF  THE  CHURCH,  I  HAVE  TO  KEEP  MY  EYE  UPON  REMOTE 
AS  WELL  AS  UPON  IMMEDIATE  CONSEQUENCES,  AND  TO  GIVE  THE 
WARNING  FROM  THE  QUARTER  WHENCE  DANGER  THREATENS. 

Bp.  Ravenscroft* 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2014 


https://archive.org/details/relativeposition01ives 


My  Brethren  of  the  Clergy: 

The  success  of  our  Ministry  depends 
much  upon  our  having,  and  acting  upon,  right  views  of  the 
relation  which  we  bear  to  our  spiritual  charge.  This 
would  be  true,  under  almost  any  circumstances  of  the 
Church  of  Christ.  But  it  is  especially  so  in  a  country  like 
our  own,  where  the  ministrations  of  this  Church  are  kept 
up  and  extended,  mainly  by  means  of  what  is  termed  "The 
voluntary  system."  Where  mutual  dependence  exists, 
there  must  be  of  necessity,  in  order  to  any  mutual  advan- 
tage, a  strict  regard  to  relative  positions  and  duties.  To 
the  relative  positions  and  duties  of  the  Clergy  and  Laity, 
therefore,  I  design,  on  the  present  occasion,  to  direct  your 
minds. 

I.  First,  neither  Clergy  nor  Laity  are  the  source  of  any 
authority  in  the  Church.    All  the  powers  which  they  may 
severally  and  legitimately  exeercise,  come  from  above. 
"AH  is  of  God."66    The  Gospel  is  "the  Gospel  of  the  bless- 
ed God;"6  the  Church  is  "the  Church  of  the  living  God;"c  its 
Ministers,  "the  embassadors  of  God  incarnate;"**  its  mem- 
bers, "the  members  of  Christ,  and  children  of  God;"e  its 
support,  "the  ability  which  God  giveth,"  "that  God  in 
all  things  may  be  glorified  through  Jesus  Christ,"/ "the 
Head  over  all  things  unto  His  Church.";?    Both  the  lavs 
of  Christ's  Kingdom,  and  the  power  to  administer  thmi, 
come  from  God.    The  government  of  this  Kingdom  in 
truth,  a  pure  Theocracy.    "God,  manifest  in  the  ilesh," 
not  only  ransomed  His  people,  called  them  unto  Himself, 

a  2  Cor.  v.  18.  b  1  Tim.  i.  11.  c  1  Tim.  iii.  15.  d%  Cor.  v.  20.  e  See  Church 
Catechism.  /I  Peter,  iv.  11.  #Eph.  i.  22. 


p  /  7  b  G  I 


6 


and  "knit  them  together  in  one  communion  and  fellow- 
ship,'" but  also  became  their  actual  "Ruler  and  Head." 
And  now,  that  He  hath  ascended  up  on  high,  He  fulfils 
His  gracious  promise,  that  "He  will  be  with  them  to  the 
end  of  the  world,"a  in  the  appointment  of  sinful  men  to  act 
in  His  place  and  stead;  under  His  authority  to  proclaim 
His  will,  administer  His  laws,  dispense  the  pledges  of  His 
love,  open  the  channels  of  His  Grace,  and  always  and  in 
everything  to  co-operate  with  Him,  in  extending  His  King- 
dom, and  accomplishing  His  purposes  of  grace  for  the  sal- 
vation of  sinners.    While  the  whole  body  of  Christ  is,  ei- 
ther directly  or  indirectly,  thus  employed,  no  member  of 
it  can  lawfully  act  beyond  the  authority  with  which  he  is 
invested  by  the  divine  Head.    A  strict  and  universal  re- 
gard to  this  truth,  as  a  first  principle, — a  truth  vitally  es- 
sential to  the  peace,  good  order,  and  successful  action  of 
the  Church, — cannot  be  too  strenuously  insisted  on.  Be 
it  then  our  endeavor,  at  the  outset,  beloved  Brethren,  (and 
here  I  address  both  Clergy  and  Laity,)  to  fix  in  our  minds 
this  fundamental  truth,  that  whatever  may  be  our  several 
spheres  and  duties  in  the  Church,  all  is  of  God s  appointment . 
For  the  moment  we  depart  from  this  truth,  either  in  main- 
taining the  one  or  discharging  the  other,  we  enter  a  laby- 
rinth of  interminable  dissension. 

II.  Another  consideration,  no  less  important,  is,  that 
whatever  powers  may  have  been  entrusted,  or  gifts  im- 
parted to  any  orders  of  men,  all  were  given  for  one  and 
the  selfsame  purpose,  viz:  the  salvation  of  men  according  to 
the  commandment  of  God.  The  means  of  this  salvation, 
enjoined  by  God's  commandment,  are  indeed  divers,  but 
they  all  harmonize,  all  concentre  upon  one  great  object. 
And  the  different  orders  in  the  Church  are  appointed  and 

a  Matt,  xx  via.  20.. 


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arranged  for  the  simple  purpose  of  applying,  under  Gods 
Spirit,  these  His  instituted  means.    Unity,  therefore,  in  all 
essential  points  of  faith  and  discipline,  is  indispensable. 
We  find  it  so  considered  and  set  forth  by  the  revelation  of 
God.    Believers  are  constantly  reminded,  that  "there  is 
one  body  and  one  spirit,  even  as  they  are  called,  in  one 
hope  of  their  calling;"**  that,  although  they  "are  many  mem- 
bers, not  having  the  same  office,"  yet  "they  are  one  body 
in  Christ;"6  and,  as  a  consequence,  they  are  earnestly  ex- 
horted to  "stand  fast  in  one  spirit,  with  one  mind  striving: 
together  for  the  faith  of  the  Gospel;"c  to  move  forward  in 
the  accomplishment  of  their  one  object,  under  the  influ- 
ence of  "that  one  spirit,  by  which  they  were  all  baptised 
into  one  body;"^  and  "to  mark  those  who  cause  divisions 
and  offences,  and  avoid  them."6    Whatever,  then,  may  be 
our  individual  notions  as  to  the  best  means  of  advancing 
the  Gospel  of  peace,  we  are  to  be  governed  in  our  efforts 
by  the  institutions  of  God,  and  the  great  principle  of  union 
and  co-operation  with  one  another.    Every  exertion  made 
in  disregard  of  these,  is  worse  than  lost  to-  the  Church — it 
endangers  her  peace  and  safety.    It  becomes  us,  then,  to 
be  ever  mindful,  that  while  our  respective  spheres  are  the 
appointment  of  God,  we  are  not  to  act  in  them  separately, 
but  unitedly;  as  the  several  parts  of  a  perfect  whole — the 
different  members  of  one  body — the  divers  and  well  or- 
dered ranks  of  the  united  host  of  God,  advancing  together 
in  "the  good  fight  of  faith;"  and  also  that,  as  we  belong  V 
the  same  fellowship,  are  pursuing  the  same  object,  and  ae 
to  be  partakers,  if  triumphant,  of  the  same  glory,  no  gro^d 
can  exist  for  jealousies,  envies  or  repinings.    Bat.  asm 
every  host  there  is  a  leader,  we  are  not  surprised  to  learn, 
that  in  the  Church,  by  God's  appointment,  a  class  of  men 
are  set  apart  to  instruct,  admonish,  and  guide. 

a  Eph.  iv.  4.    b  1  Cor.  xii.  12.    c  Phil.  i.  27.    d  1  Cor.  xii.  13.   e  Rom.  xvi.  17, 


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III.  The  next  point,  then,  to  be  observed,  is  that  of  due 
subordination  among  the  different  classes  of  men  in  the  Church. 
Each  one  has  his  distinct  place  assigned  him  by  infinite 
wisdom,  and  the  point  of  duty  is  to  keep  his  place.  The 
principle  here  involved,  pervades  every  sound  and  well- 
governed  association  of  men.    Without  it,  indeed,  no  as- 
sociation can  long  exist.    Let  subordination  be  banished 
from  our  families,  our  work  shops,  and  farms,  and  count- 
ing houses,  and  seats  of  learning  and  courts  of  justice,  and 
what  but  their  immediate  and  total  destruction  will  ensue? 
We  see  the  force,  therefore,  of  those  repeated  and  earnest 
exhortations  of  the  Apostle  to  the  Churches,  to  "be  quiet, 
to  do  their  own  business,""  to  "submit  one  to  another," — 
"submit  to  those  who  are  over  them  in  the  Lord;"6  and  of 
the  requirements  of  the  holy  Catholic  Church,  founded 
upon  these  exhortations — that,  in  doing  our  duty  to  our 
neighbor,  we  are  "to  honor  and  obey  the  civil  authority; 
to  submit  ourselves  to  all  our  governors,  teachers,  spiritual 
pastors  and  masters."c   Every  member,  then,  of  the  chris- 
tian Church,  from  the  highest  to  the  lowest  grade,  is  bound 
to  act  in  his  appropriate  sphere,  to  confine  himself  to  the 
duties  of  his  particular  station,  and  to  treat  with  .proper 
respect  and  consideration,  all  orders  and  degrees  of  men, 
either  above  or  below  him, — remembering  that  each  has 
his  place,  not  by  self-promotion,  nor  by  any  human  au- 
thority, but  by  the  appointment  of  Almighty  God. 

IV.  In  view  of  these  cardinal  truths,  let  us  examine 
some  of  the  high  trusts  which  God  has  committed  to  "the 
divers  orders  in  His  Church." 

i.  And  first,  those  trusts  committed  by  the  incarnate 
Son,  possessed  of  all  power  in  heaven  and  earth,  to  the 
special  embassadors  of  His  will. 


a  1  Thcss.  iv.  11.    h  \  Thess.  v.  12.    c  Church  Catrchhm. 


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The  words  of  tlic  great  commission  are — "Go  ye,  disci- 
ple'4 all  nations,  baptising  them  in  the  name  of  the  Father 
and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost;  teaching  them  to 
observe  all  things  whatsoever  I  have  commanded.  you"b  No 
one  can  listen  to  this  commission  without  feeling  that  an 
awful  charge  Avas  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  Apostles;  that 
they  were  put  in  trust  with  the  Gospel,  and  from  that  mo- 
ment became  responsible  to  Christ,  in  a  high  sense,  for  the 
efficacy  of  the  Gospel  in  saving  men.    Again,  we  have  a 
somewhat  altered  form  of  the  same  commission:  "As  my 
Father  sent  me,  even  so  send  I  you.    And  when  He  had 
said  this,  He  breathed  on  them,  and  saith  unto  them,  Receive 
ye  the  Holy  Ghost:  Whosesoever  sins  ye  remit,  they  are 
remitted  unto  them,  and  whosesoever  sins  ye  retain,  they 
are  retained."0    Not  to  enter  upon  a  discussion  of  the  full 
meaning  of  this  passage,  I  shall  insist  upon  its  plainly  teach- 
ing the  authority  of  the  Apostles  to  administer,  for  the  ben- 
efit of  men's  souls,  "the  Sacraments  and  discipline  of  Christ." 
From  the  two  passages  we  have,  at  least,  this  essential 
truth, — That  prior  to  His  ascension,  the  divine  Head  and 
Saviour  of  the  Church  set  apart  an  order  of  men  to  act  in 
His  place,  and  by  His  authority,  in  publishing  and  carry- 
ing out  the  provisions  of  His  Gospel;  that  He  solemnly 
commissioned  them  to  proclaim  the  words  of  eternal  life, 
to  bring  men  into  a  state  of  salvation,  through  His  blood, 
by  holy  baptism,  to  dispense  to  them  the  manifold  bless 
inos  of  His  covenant,  and  to  withhold  these  blessings  wh^1 
sufficient  cause  should  exist;  and  also,  to  transmit  to  cutt- 
ing ages,  the  authority  with  which  He  had  thus  invested 
them.    The  first  ministers  of  Christ,  then,  having  tfte  en- 
tire charge,  or  oversight,  of  the  Gospel,  upon  then'  being 

a  "Disciple"    This  rendering  is  supported  by  the  best  authorities.   The  original 
word  never  means  "To  teach"    b  Matt,  xxviii.  19,  20.    c  John,  xx.  £1,  23. 

2 


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sustained  was  made  to  depend  the  success  of  this  stupend- 
ous scheme  of  life  and  salvation  in  a  crucified  Redeemer. 

1.  But  the  question  arises,  did  this  oversight  of  the  Gos- 
pel, in  its  essential  particulars,  continue  with  the  ministry 
of  the  Church!  Did  not  the  Apostles,  in  their  peculiar 
character  as  Apostles,  as  the  first  propagators  of  the  whole 
truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  possess  peculiar  powers?  It  is  true, 
they  were  inspired  to  teach  this  truth,  and  empowered  to 
work  miracles  in  its  support.  But  neither  of  these  endow- 
ments belonged  to  the  Apostolic  or  ministerial  commission, 
which  we  are  considering.  They  belonged  rather  to  a 
special  dispensation,  granted  for  a  special  purpose,  and 
were  shared  more  or  less  by  all  orders  of  men  who  lived 
at  the  time;  by  Apostles,  elders,  deacons  and  laymen, — by 
those  who  were  commanded  to  be  in  subjection  to  the  A- 
postles.  Hence  the  authority  of  the  Apostles  could  not 
have  been  derived  from  this  source,  but  from  their  minis- 
terial commission.  An  important  distinction,  therefore, 
must  be  kept  in  view,  if  we  would  rightly  settle  the  ques- 
tion before  us,  between  the  ministerial  or  pastoral  charac- 
ter of  the  Apostles,  and  their  character  as  inspired  men; 
this  latter  not  having  been  restricted  to  their  order.  We 
are  not  disposed  to  conceal,  that  the  Apostles  had  a  dif- 
ferent, and,  in  some  respects,  a  higher  security  against  er- 
ror in  their  teaching,  than  is  granted  to  their  successors  of  the 
present  day.  They  were  guided  and  guarded  by  the  im- 
mediate witness  of  the  Spirit;  while  we  are  dependent  up- 
on Holy  Writ  and  the  Holy  Catholic  Church.  This  cir- 
cumstance, however,  has  nothing  to  do  with  the  question 
of  ministerial  authority c  It  can  only  affect  the  business,  not 
the  office,  of  teaching; — the  business,  by  the  change  of  dis- 
pensation, being  rendered  more  difficult  now  than  it  was 
at  the  period  of  inspiration.    The  authorized  teachers  of 


11 


religion,  however,  have  always  been  bound  to  teach  the 
truth,  by  whatever  means  instructed  in  it;  and  in  case  of 
their  failure  to  do  so,  full  provision  has  been  made  for  the 
correction  of  the  error.*  Their  authority  of  the  Apostles, 
therefore,  as  the  ministers  of  Christ,  did  not  grow  out  of 
any  peculiar  or  supernatural  qualifications^  they  happened 
to  possess,  but  solely  out  of  the  fact  of  their  being  His  min- 
isters, entrusted  with  His  Gospel,  and  commissioned  to  act 
in  His  stead.  If,  then,  the  ministerial  commission  of  the 
Apostles  is  perpetuated  in  the  Church,  the  responsibility 
and  authority  involved  in  it,  must  likewise  be  perpetuated. 
Now,  that  this  commission  is  perpetuated,  may  be  argued, 
First,  from  its  own  language,  which  makes  provision  to  this 
end,  "Lo  1  am  with  you  always,  even  unto  the  end  of  the 
world,"  which  promise  could  be  fulfilled  to  the  Apostles 
only  through  their  successors  in  office.  Secondly,  from  the 
object  of  the  commission,  which  is  a  perpetual  object, — the 
dispensation  of  the  Gospel  to  the  end  of  time.  "God  hath 
given  to  us,"  declares  >5t.  Paul,  "the  ministry  of  reconcilia- 
tion."0 So  long,  therefore,  as  any  of  our  redeemed  race 
are  in  a  state  of  alienation  from  God,  so  lono-  are  the  em- 
bassadors  of  Christ  entrusted  with  the  office  of  "beseech- 
ing them,  in  Christ's  stead,  to  be  reconciled  to  God."*7  A- 
gain,  he  gave  some  Apostles,  some  prophets,  some  evange- 
lists, some  pastors  and  teachers,  for  the  perfecting  of  the 
saints,  for  the  work  of  the  ministry,  for  the  edifying  of  the 

a  By  an  appeal  to  the  ecclesiastical  authority  of  a  diocese,  or  to  a  Council  ot  Bish- 
ops; as  in  the  case  or"  the  rirst  Council  at  Jerusalem. 

b  it  is  not  here  meant  to  undervalue  the  -personal  qual'jicatinvs  of  Christ's  minis- 
ters. Such  qualifications  we  regard  as  indispensable  to  a  proper  exercise  of  ministerial 
authority; — hut  they  cannot  confer  this  authority.  A  man  may  have  the  holiness  and 
devotion  of  an  angel,  and  still  not  he  authorized  to  preach  the  Gospel, jior  administer 
the  Holy  Sacraments.  Many  Laymen  are  as  holy  anil  devoted  to  God  in  their  lives  as 
the  most  spiritual  of  the  Cleigy;  hut  they  are  nevertheless  Laymen,  and  must  remain 
60,  and  not  attempt  any  sacred  functions  tili  they  are  ordained  to  the  Ministry  hy  those 
who  have  power  to  ordain.  Qual Jications,  then,  although  important  to  usefulness, 
are  not  essential  to  uxithoriiy,  or  the  vuhddy  of  ministeiial  acts.  See  Articles  of  Re- 
ligion,  ArL  x.wi.  c  2  Cor.  v.  18,  19.     d  Ibid.  20. 


12 


body  of  Christ.""   Now,  till  the  saints  are  made  perfect,  in 
number  and  graces;  till  the  work  of  the  ministry  be  finally 
accomplished;  till  the  body  of  Christ,  the  Church,  be  built 
up  in  ail  lands  and  throughout  all  time;  the  purpose  of  the 
pastoral  office,  as  here  set  forth,  will  be  unfulfilled,  and 
hence  the  office  be  in  force.    But  the  office,  in  its  duties 
and  responsibilities,  cannot  be  in  force  while  its  authority 
is  taken  away.    Besides,  suppose  we  admit  that  the  Apos- 
tles, from  their  position  as  founders  of  the  Church,  and  per- 
fecters  of  the  sacred  Canon,  were  entitled  to  a  peculiar 
submission;  this  surely  could  not  be  said  of  their  succes- 
sors,  who  performed  their  office  where  the  Church  was 
already  founded,  and  performed  it  with  no  supernatural 
safeguard  against  error.    And  yet  St.  Paul  exhorts  the 
Hebrew  christians,  in  a  country  where  the  Government  of 
the  Church  had  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  successors  of 
the  Apostles,  "to  obey  those  who  had  the  rule  oyer  them, 
and  submit  themselves;"6  and  not  for  the  temporary  reason 
that  these  ministers  were  inspired  men,  but  for  the  abiding- 
reason  that  they  were  commissioned  watchifien, — "for  the}' 
match  for  your  souls  as  they  that  must  give  account."0  Tim- 
othy, invested  with  the  office  of  a  bishop  by  St.  Paul,  re- 
ceived from  him  this  charge,  "Before  God  and  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,"  "Preach  the  word:  be  instant  in  season,  out 
of  season;  reprove,  rebuke,  exhort,  with  all  long  suffer- 
ing and  doctrine."^   But  Timothy  was  not  put  in  posses- 
sion of  the  truth,  nor  secured  in  it,  by  the  inspiration  of 
Gad;  but  received  it  and  kept  it,  as  we  of  the  present  age 
receive  and  keep  it,  "By  giving  attention  to  reading,  and 
by  holding  fast  the  form  of  sound  words  committed  to 
him."e    Titus,  also,  raised  by  the  Apostle  to  the  same  of- 


a  Eph.  iv.  1 1,  12.  b  Heb.  xiii.  17.  c  The  same  may  be  said  of  the  admonitions  of 
St.  Paul,  recoided  1  Then*,  v.  12.    d2  Tim.  iv.  1,  2.    el  Tim.  iv.  13;  2  Tim.  i.  13. 


13 


ficc,  was  empowered  to  set  in  order  all  things  that  were; 
wanting  in  the  Church  over  which  he  was  placed;"  to  speak 
the  things  which  became  sound  doctrine,  and  to  exhort  and 
rebuke  with  all  authority}  and  to  reject  heretics  after  suit- 
able admonition:  And  still  Titus  was  a  man  subject  to  like 
errors  with  ourselves.  Not  being  shielded  by  any  mira- 
culous communications,  he  was  instructed,  as  we  are,  "to 
hold  fast  the  faithful  word  as  he  had  been  taught."c  Hence 
we  see,  that  ministerial  authority  was  imparted  where  the 
gifts  of  inspiration  were  wanting;  and  that  the  Apostles,  at 
their  departure,  left  in  the  ministry  of  the  Church  the 
commission,  with  all  that  pertained  to  it,  which  they  had 
received  from  Christ,  its  divine  Head. 

That  the  same  authority  was  claimed  by  the  ministry, 
and  universally  acknowledged  in  the  Church,  immediately 
subsequent  to  the  age  of  the  Apostles/7  is  a  fact  too  gene- 
rally admitted  to  require  proof,  even  were  its  establish- 
ment necessary  to  my  present  purpose.  For  this,  howev- 
er, it  will  be  enough  to  state  the  views,  on  the  question,  of 
that  branch  of  the  Catholic  Church  to  which  we  belong. 
The  Liturgy  will  furnish  the  proper  information.  Those 
solemn  forms  by  which  we  introduce  men  to  the  sacred 
office,  first  claim  our  attention.6  To  the  candidate  for  the 
Episcopacy,  the  Church  addresses  this  language:  "Are  you 
ready  with  all  faithful  diligence  to  banish  and  drive  away 
from  the  Church  all  erroneous  and  strange  doctrine,  con- 
trary to  God's  word;  and  both  privately  and  openly  to  call 
upon  and  encourage  others  to  the  samel"  "Will  you  dil- 
igently exercise  such  discipline  as,  by  the  authority  of 
God's  word,  and  by  the  order  of  this  Church,  is  committed 
to  you?"    The  candidate,  showing  his  willingness  to  do 

a  Tit.  i.  5.    b  ii.  15.    c  i.  19.    d  Bing.  Orig.  Ecci.  B.  i.  C.  v.  sec.  iv.;  also  Sinclair's 
Dissertations  on  Episcopacy,  chap.  ii.  and  Hicks  on  Christian  Piiesthood. 
t  Form  of  consecrating  Bishops  and  ordering  Priests  and  Deacons. 


3  4 


these  tiling's  in  the  answer,  "I  am  ready;  I  will  so  do,  the 
Lord  being  my  helper/'  is  consecrated  to  his  holy  work  by 
imposition  of  hands,  with  these  weighty  and  emphatic 
words:  ''Receive  the  Holy  Ghost,  for  the  office  and  work 
of  a  Bishop  in  the  Church  of  God,  now  committed  unto 
thee."  Prayers  follow  for  grace  that  the  newly  consecrat- 
ed Bishop,  with  all  others,  "may  diligently  preach  God's 
word,  and  duly  administer  the  Godly  discipline  thereof, 
and  that  the  people  may  obediently  follow  the  same;"  that 
'•he  may  be  earnest  to  reprove,  beseech,  and  rebuke,  with 
all  patience  and  doctrine," — "using  the  authority  given 
him,  not  to  destruction,  but  to  salvation;  not  to  hurt,  but  to 
help;"  and  that  the  people  may  so  receive  the  word  of  life, 
that  "all  may  obtain  the  crown  of  everlasting  glory."  In 
regard  to  the  candidate  for  the  Priesthood,  the  Church  is 
no  less  explicit.  £>he  meets  him,  on  his  approach  to  her 
sacred  allar,  with  this  thrilling  appeal:  "We  exhort  }7ou, 
in  the  name  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  that  you  have  in 
remembrance  into  how  high  a  dignity,  and  to  how  weighty 
an  office  and  charge,  you  are  called;  that  is  to  say,  to  be  a 
messenger,  watchman,  and  steward  of  the  Lord;  to  teach  and 
to  premonish,  to  feed  and  provide  for  the  Lord's  family." — 
She  then  demands  of  him  an  answer,  before  God,  to  the 
following  question:  "Will  you  give  your  faithful  diligence 
.so  to  minister  the  doctrine  and  sacraments,  and  the  disci- 
pline  of  Christ,  as  the  Lord  hath  commanded,  and  as  this 
Church  hath  received  the  same,  according  to  the  com- 
mandments of  God;  so  that  you  may  teach  the  people  com- 
mitted to  your  cure  and  charge,  with  all  diligence  to  keep 
and  observe  the  same!"  "Will  you  be  ready,  with  all 
faithful  diligence,  to  banish  and  drive  away  from  the  Church 
all  erroneous  and  strange  doctrine,  contrary  to  God's  word; 
and  to  use  both  public  and  private  monitions  and  exhorta- 


15 


tions,  as  well  to  the  sick  as  the  whole,  within  your  cure*, 
as  need  shall  require,  and  occasion  shall  be  given!"  A 
ready  answer  being  returned,  the  candidate  is  invested  by  his 
Bishop  with  the  holy  office  of  Priesthood.  The  language 
used  on  the  occasion  is  remarkable:  "Take  thou  authority 
to  execute  the  office  of  a  Priest  in  the  Church  of  God;"  or, 
"Receive  the  Holy  Ghost  for  the  office  and  work  of  a 
Priest  in  the  Church  of  God,  now  committed  unto  thee  by 
the  imposition  of  our  hands:  Whose  sins  thou  dost  forgive, 
they  are  forgiven,  and  whose  sins  thou  dost  retain,  they 
are  retained;  and  be  thou  a  faithful  dispenser  of  the  word 
of  God  and  of  His  holy  sacraments."  In  the  case  of  Dea- 
cons, the  words  employed  are,  "Take  thou  authority  to 
execute  the  office  of  a  Deacon  in  the  Church  of  God, 
committed  unto  thee."    In  addition  to  this  lanoiinoe,  the 

~       O  7 

Church  employs,  as  applicable  to  the  Ministry  now,  all 
those  passages  of  Holy  A Vrit,  which  set  forth  the  divine 
commission  and  authority  of  the  Apostles  themselves.  Her 
view,  therefore,  undoubtedly  is,  that  whatever  ministerial 
powers  may  have  been  imparted  under  the  first  commis- 
sion, they  are  still  continued  to  "the  ministers  of  Apostolic 
succession." 

2.  Another  qucre,  however,  arises:  Are  not  these  powers 
defined  and  limited!  Our  answer  is  unhesitatingly  in  the 
affirmative.  All  essential  points  of  faith  and  discipline  are 
definitely  settled  by  the  authority  which  Christ  reposed  in 
the  Church.  Hence  her  ministers  promise  at  the  altar, 
that  "thev  will  oive  all  faithful  diligence,  always  so  to  min- 
ister  the  doctrine  and  sacraments  and  discipline  of  CimisT 
as  the  Lord  hath  commanded,  and  as  this  Church  hath  re- 
ceived the  same!'  The  creeds,  and  offices,  and  catechism, 
and  rubrics,  and  articles  of  the  liturgy,  show  how  the  doc- 
trine, the  sacraments,  and  discipline  of  Cuk::t,  have  been 


16 


received  by  the  Church;0  and  hence  what  the  standards 
are,  by  which  each  minister  is  to  be  governed  in  the  exer- 
cise of  his  functions.  But  as  a  few  general  principles  on- 
ly are  set  forth  in  these  standards,  and  as  the  cases  requir- 
ing their  application  are  exceedingly  numerous  and  diver- 
sified, considerable  latitude  of  judgment  must  necessarily 
be  allowed  to  the  minister  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties. 
In  the  case  of  discipline  for  what  the  Church  regards 
scandalous  offences,  his  discretion  must  be  limited  to  a  fair 
interpretation  of  the  strict  letter  of  the  law;  but  in  his  in- 
structions, and  warnings,  and  admonitions,  he  is  to  have 
respect  to  its  general  tone  and  sjnritp  And  here  he  is  au- 
thorized to  expect  deference,  although  he  may  have  no 
right  to  enforce  it.  This  view  is  fully  borne  out  by  the 
requirements  of  the  Church.  One  of  her  Canons0  obliges 
the  minister  of  every  parish  "not  only  to  be  diligent  in  in- 
structing the  children  in  the  Catechism,  but  also,  by  stated 
Catechetical  lectures  and  instruction,  to  be  diligent  in  in- 
forming the  youth  and  others  in  the  doctrine,  constitution, 
and  liturgy  of  the  Church."  Under  this  Canon,  "the  youth 
and  others"  are  to  look  to  their  minister,  and  to  no  one 
else  in  the  parish,  for  an  authorized  explanation,  among  o- 
ther  matters,  of  the  three  tilings  set  forth  in  the  Catechism, 
as  promised  and  vowed  in  their  name  at  their  bastism: — 
For  he,  and  he  only,  is  authorized  to  give  such  explana- 
tion, or  has  responsibility  in  the  case.  "Youth  and  others," 
therefore,  are  to  attach  to  his  judgment  peculiar  weight, — 

a  Hook's  Sermon,  "The  Gospel  and  the  Gospel  only  the  basis  of  Education;"  Bp. 
Doane,  "The  Faith  once  delivered  to  the  Saints;"  Manning,  "The  rule  of  Faith:" — pro- 
ductions which  speak  the  language  of  the  best  days  of  the  English  Reformation,  and 
which  can  he  resisted  only  at  the  hazard  of  destruction  to  the  sacred  Canon. 

b  In  ascertaining  whether  an  action  is  malum  in  se,  or  malum  prohibitum,  the 
enlightened  christian  looks  deeper  than  the  mere  body  of  the  action,  into  its  sou/,  and  its 
tendency.  He  feels  that  in  obeying  the  law  of  God,  he  is  "to  do  all  to  the  glory  of 
God;"  that,  like  the  young  man  in  the  Gospel,  he  may  be  faultless  in  the  outward 
observance  of  the  commandments,  while  a  want  of  the  true  spirit  of  obedience  may 
be  fatal  to  his  hopes  of  eternal  life.       c  Canon  xxviii.  1832. 


17 


are  to  "submit  themselves  to  their  spiritual  pastor ,"a  Two 
petitions  in  the  liturgy  tend  to  illustrate  the  Church's  view 
of  this  matter.  In  the  first,  we  beseech  Almighty  God  "to 
illuminate  all  Bishops,  Priests,  and  Deacons,  with  true 
knowledge  and  understanding  of  His  word:  that  both  by 
their  preaching  and  living,  they  may  set  it  forth,  and  show 
it  accordingly:"  and  in  the  second,  we  beseech  Him  "to 
give  to  all  His  people  increase  of  grace,  to  hear  meekly  His 
word,  and  to  receive  it  with  pure  affection,  and  to  bring 
forth  the  fruits  of  the  spirit."  This  difference  in  the  peti- 
tions for  ministers  and  people,  while  it  runs  through  all 
those  prayers  which  refer  to  their  relative  spheres,  points 
to  the  one  as  instructors,  and  to  the  other  as  learners,  in 
the  school  of  Christ. 

3.  You  ask,  perhaps,  is  there  no  check  to  this  discre- 
tionary power  lodged  with  the  teachers  of  Christ's  people? 
I  answer,  there  clearly  is.  At  his  ordination,  the  Deacon 
or  Priest,  as  the  case  may  be,  is  required  to  promise,  that 
"he  will  reverently  obey  his  bishop,  and  other  chief  minis- 
ters, who,  according  to  the  Canons  of  the  Church,  may 
have  the  charge  and  government  over  him;  following,  with 
a  glad  mind,  their  Godly  admonitions,  and  submitting  him- 
self to  their  Godly  judgments."  In  this  promise,  provision 
is  made  for  all  necessary  restraint  upon  ministerial  author- 
ed This  is  noi  to  be  regarded  as  a  submission  to  the  private  opinions  of  the  pastor, 
for  he  is  bound,  we  have  seen,  to  be  governed  in  his  interpretations  by  the  public  stan- 
dards of  the  Church.  In  case,  however,  of  a  disagreement  between  the  pastor  and 
parishioner,  the  latter  is  not  to  go  about  proclaiming  his  views  in  opposition  to  his  pas- 
tor, but  is,  if  the  matter  of  difference  be  essentia/,  to  appeal  in  the  manner  hereafter 
pointed  out.  If,  however,  the  matter  be  not  essential,  he  can  silently  entertain  his  pri- 
vate judgment.  In  opposition  to  this  view,  the  question  is  sometimes  asked,  "It  the 
Laity  are  not  to  judge  for  themselves  in  matters  of  Faith,  why  are  they  required  to 
search  the  Scriptures?  I  answer,  the  positions  of  both  Clergy  and  Laity,  in  respect  to 
the  truth,  are  essentially  different  from  what  they  were  when  this  exhortation  was 
penned.  Then,  the  foundations  of  truth  were  not  fully  discovered;  now,  the  truth  it- 
self is  settled;  and  hence  the  force  of  the  Gospel  exhortation  at  the  present  time  must  bo 
determined  by  the  condition  of  Christians  at  the  present  time.  In  the  case  of  an  intel- 
ligent Churchman,  nothingremains,  in  searching  the  Scriptures,  but  "growth  in  grace." 
The  Scriptures  are  the  proper  food  of  the  soul,  and  he  is  to  search  them,  that  he  may 
imbibe  more  and  more  of  the  spirit  of  Christ,  and  be  nourished  up  into  everlasting  life. 
3 


18 


ity  in  a  parish;  while  the  Canons  of  the  Church  distinctly 
prescribe  the  proper  means  for  the  adjustment  of  all  paro- 
chial differences  by  an  appeal  to  the  Ordinary !L  Where 
these  differences  are  diocesan,  recourse  may  be  had  to  a 
National  Council;  and  thence,  if  need  be,  to  a  General 
Council}  Ample,  therefore,  are  the  securities  in  the 
Church, — securities  which  the  Laity  themselves  assisted 
in  providing, — against  the  undue  exercise  of  Priestly  au- 
thority. So  that  such  authority  need  never  be  feared  in 
our  country,  so  long  as  the  ministers  of  the  Church  are 
excluded,  as  they  rightly  are,  from  all  participation  in  civil 
offices,  and  hence,  from  the  chief  temptation  to  lend  their 
spiritual  influence  to  build  up  an  undue  secular  importance.6 

ii.  But  you  inquire,  if  such  be  the  divine  commission  of 
the  Clergy,  what  are  the  duties  of  the  Laity?  Have  they 
nothing  to  do  or  say  in  a  matter  so  vitally  connected  with 
their  present  and  eternal  well-being?  I  answer,  "much," 
almost  "every  way."  The  ministry  of  Christ  is  theirs — 
the  blessing  of  God  to  them.  "We  preach  not  ourselves,  but 
Christ  Jesus,  the  Lord;  and  ourselves  your  servants  for 
Jesus'  sake.,,d  We  are  to  "glory  only  in  the  cross  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ;"6  "are  to  know  nothing  among  you,  save 
Jesus  Christ,  and  Him  CRUCIFIED."/  Ministerial  au- 
thority, therefore,  was  conferred,  not  to  elevate  and  digni- 
fy the  ministry, — to  create  and  j:>rovide  for  "a  privileged 
class:"  but  to  be  a  savour  of  life  to  condemned  sinners;  to 
bear  the  tidings  and  terms  of  salvation,  through  a  crucified 
Redeemer,  to  our  perishing  race;  to  call  them  up  from  the 
depths  of  a  vile  bondage  to  Satan,  receive  their  submis- 

a  Canon  xxxiv.  b  Palmer's  Treatise  on  the  Church,  chap.  General  Coun- 

cils.   This  invaluahle  work  is  about  to  be  re-published  by  Appleton  &  Co.,  N.  York. 

c  An  examination  into  the  causes  which  led  to  the  enormous  power  of  the  Clergy 
in  the  middle  ages  will  more  than  justify  these  remarks; — See  Poole's  Cyprian,  p.  45, 
&c. — where  it  is  made  clear  that  the  early  Church  entertained  a  salutary  dread  of  the 
intermeddling  of  the  Clergy  in  secular  things. 

d  2  Cor.  iv.  5.    e  Gal  vi.  11.   /  1  Cor.  ii.  2. 


19 


sion  to  Christ,  and  gather  them  into  His  glorious  fellow- 
ship: Yea,  as  an  instrument  in  God's  hands,  "to  raise  them 
up  together,  and  make  them  sit  together  in  heavenly  pla- 
ces in  Christ  Jesus."^  The  appointment  of  the  holy  min- 
istry, therefore,  was  not  for  the  mere  temporal  advantage 
of  any  one;  but  for  the  mutual  benefit  of  both  ministers  and 
people,  as  sumers  before  God.  It  is  emphatically  "the  min- 
istry of  reconciliation," — the  chosen  instrument  of  God  "in 
reconciling  the  world  unto  Himself."6  When  the  first  con- 
verts  to  Christ  are  represented  as  "continuing  in  the  Apos- 
tles' doctrine  and  fellowship,"6'  it  was  not  that  they  were 
contributing  to  the  honor  of  the  Apostles;  but  that  they 
were  pursuing  the  way  of  life  for  themselves.  The  min- 
istry, then,  is  the  blessing  of  God  to  the  people;  and  the 
people  are  called  upon,  for  their  own  sakes,  to  sustain  the 
ministry.  This  is  the  sum  of  their  duty  in  sustaining  the 
Gospel;  as  the  ministry  "is  put  in  trust  with  the  Gos- 
pel."^ In  the  New  Testament,  therefore,  the  people  are 
never  spoken  of  as  having  any  department  of  duty  distinct 
and  separate  from  the  Clergy.  St.  Paul  styles  them  fel- 
low laborers.  "Greet  Priscilla  and  Aqmla,  my  helpers  in 
Christ  Jesus."6  "Greet  Mary,  who  bestowed  much  labour 
on  us"/  "Salute  Urbane,  our  helper  in  Christ."-  And  he 
gives  commendation  "to  every  one  that  helpeth  with  "its, 
and  laboureth;"^  and  he  no  where  intimates,  that  either  in- 
dividual or  associated  effort  for  saving  men,  can  lawfully 
be  made,  except  in  co-operation  or  concurrence  with  the 
ministry  of  Christ.  The  lesson  is,  that  the  Laity  have  the 
deepest  concern  in  the  progress  of  the  Gospel, — the  hea- 
viest responsibility  in  promoting  its  interests;  that  they  are 
bound  to  be  co-workers  with  God— fellow  laborers  with  the 
ministry  of  His  Son. 

aEph.  ii.  6.  b  2  Cor.  v.  18,  19.  c  Acts,  ii.  42.  d  1  Tim.  i.  1 1.  e  Rom.  xvi.  3. 
/Ibid.  6.  g  Ibid.  9.  h  1  Cor.  xvi,  16,— See  also  Phil.  iv.  3;  3  John,  8;  2  Cor.  i.  11;  1 
Cor.  iii.  9. 


20 


1.  Their  first  duty  is  to  establish  among  them  this  min- 
istry;— to  provide  the  means  for  its  proper  support.  Not 
a  support  to  feed  luxury,  or  pamper  pride, — this  would  be 
highly  injurious;  but  such  a  support  as  may  be  needful  to 
shield  the  mind  of  a  minister  from  worldly  anxiety,  supply 
him  with  the  means  of  charity,  and  leave  him  free  to  de- 
vote his  time  and  energies  to  the  sacred  work  assigned 
him  by  the  Lord  of  the  harvest.    This  will  be  required, 
and  may  be  reasonably  claimed,  under  the  command  of 
Almighty  God.a    The  support  of  the  ministry,  I  know,  is 
sometimes  considered  a  burden, — but  not  by  minds  ac- 
quainted with  the  subject;  for,  let  the  ministry  be  viewed 
in  its  bearing  either  upon  our  temporal  or  eternal  interests, 
and  nothing  can  be  more  unwarrantable  than  the  feeling, 
that  it  is  burdensome.    Remove  it,  with  all  its  temporal 
advantages  to  the  community;  take  away  its  wisdom,  its 
literature,  its  moral  power;  put  out  its  sacred  lights;  over- 
turn its  altars;  and  lay  its  temples  in  the  dust;  and  you  may 
form  some  notion  of  your  indebtedness  to  it  as  an  instru- 
ment of  mere  worldly  prosperity.    It  is  the  deepest  in- 
gratitude to  God,  even  for  the  man  who  has  chosen  his 
portion  in  this  life,  to  complain  of  the  support  of  the  min- 
istry, as  burdensome;  for  there  is  nothing  under  heaven  con- 
tributing to  his  temporal  good,  for  which  he  pays  so  mean 
and  inadequate  a  price.    Well  would  it  be  for  men  to 
consider,  whether,  in  this  thing,  they  are  not  guilty  of 
"robbing  God."    The  pecuniary  support  of  the  ministry, 
however,  is  to  be  viewed  in  its  influence  upon  our  spiritu- 
al and  eternal  interests.    I  refer  here,  not  to  the  blessing 
of  this  ministry  as  an  appointed  means  for  our  salvation, 
but  to  the  saving  influence,  which  our  being  called  upon 
to  maintain  it  with  our  worldly  goods,  is  calculated  to  ex- 

""flLuka,  x.  11;  I  Tim.  v.  18;  2  Tim.  ii.  fr,  1  Cor.  ix.  7,  11,  13,  U;  Gal.  6,  7. 


21 


ercise  upon  our  affections  and  fives*  The  main  obstacle 
to  the  love  of  God  in  our  hearts,  is  the  love  of  the  world, 
which  has  in  them  so  firm  a  lodgement;  so  that  whatever 
tends  to  weaken  this,  must  be  cherished  as  a  blessing. 
Now,  giving  largely  of  our  worldly  substance  has  this  ten- 
dency; and  hence  is  enjoined  as  among  our  first  and  high- 
est duties,  on  our  becoming  followers  of  Christ.  Our  spir- 
itual welfare,  then,  is  deeply  concerned  in  these  calls  upon 
us  to  maintain  the  ministrations  of  the  Divine  Word.  To 
break  down  the  dreadful  power  of  the  world  in  the  heart 
of  the  rich  young  man  in  the  parable,  our  Lord  enjoined, 
that  he  should  give  up  all  his  goods.  And  so  fully  in  a- 
greement  with  the  spirit  of  this  injunction  was  the  influ- 
ence of  the  Gospel  upon  the  primitive  saints,  that  "none  a- 
mong  them  lacked;'' — "none  calling  aught  that  he  possess- 
ed his  own;"a  "each  looking  not  only  on  his  own  things, 
but  on  the  things  of  others  also/'^  The  pecuniary  support 
of  the  Gospel,  therefore,  is  to  be  regarded  by  a  people,  as 
a  means  of  grace.  And  no  people  evince  that  they  have 
greater  need  for  a  liberal  use  of  this  means,  than  they  who 
complain  of  its  burdens. 

2.  The  people  have  a  further  duty  in  this  matter.  It 
can  afford  little  comfort  to  the  faithful  embassador  of  Christ, 
that  his  temporal  wants  are  supplied,  his  person  honored 
and  cherished,  while  his  message  is  set  at  naught,  or  in 
any  way  hindered.  Incumbent  is  it,  therefore,  upon  his 
spiritual  charge,  to  receive  his  message,  and  to  promote  its 
reception,  in  all  its  fullness,  "according  to  their  several  a- 
bility."  Much  of  a  pastor's  success  depends  upon  the  ex- 
ample and  influence  of  the  leading  members  of  his  Church; 
upon  parents,  communicants,  and  those  in  a  position  to  give 
tone  to  the  young  and  more  dependent  of  the  flock.  When 


a  Acts,  ii.  44,  45.    b  Phil.  ii.  4. 


22 


parents  co-operate  with  their. pastor,  in  imparting  to  their 
children  deep- and  solemn  views  of  the  baptismal  covenant; 
of  their  obligation  to  God  for  its  gifts,  and  their  accounta- 
bility to  God  for  the  use  they  make  of  them:  When  com- 
municants realize,  that  "they  are  not  their  own,  but  are 
bought  with  the  precious  blood  of  Christ,  and  bound  to 
glorify  Him  in  their  bodies  and  their  spirits  which  are 
His;""  when  they  realize  the  high  privilege  they  enjoy,  of 
being  allowed  "to  continue  in  the  Apostles'  doctrine  and 
fellowship;  and  in  breaking  of  bread,  and  in  prayers;"  the 
high  privilege  of  belonging  to  "the  communion  of  saints;" 
of  being  admitted  "to  Mount  Zion,  to  the  city  of  the  living 
God,  the  heavenly  Jerusalem,  and  to  an  innumerable  com- 
pany of  angels,  to  the  general  assembly  and  Church  of  the 
first-born,  which  arc  written  in  heaven,  and  to  God  the 
Judge  of  all,  and  to  the  spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect, 
and  to  Jesus,  the  Mediator  of  the  new  covenant,  and  to 
the  blood  of  sprinkling,  that  speaketh  better  things  than 
the  blood  of  Abel:"6  When  communicants  realize  these 
glorious  things;  when  those,  whose  example  and  spirit  bear 
sway  in  the  community,  understand  and  feel  the  awfulness 
of  their  responsibility,  and  the  weight  of  their  obligation 
to  God,  to  cast  all  their  influence  into  the  scale  of  his  ser- 
vice; when,  in  short,  the  members  of  Christ's  mystical  bo- 
dy shall  be  animated  by  His  spirit,  and  earnest  in  the  in- 
quiry, "What  more  can  I  do  for  His  glory,  who  has  died 
to  save  my  souir — Then  will  appear  the  divine  excellency 
of  the  ministerial  office;  then  will  the  word  of  God,  spoken 
by  His  commissioned  servants,  "have  free  course  and  be 
glorified;"  then  will  their  hands  be  made  strong  to  labour, 
and  their  hearts  glad  to  endure,  and  valiant  to  contend 
and  to  achieve.    On  the  other  hand,  let  parents  be  indif- 


u  1  Cor.  vi.  20,    b  Heb,  xii.  %%t  23,  24. 


23 


ferent  to  the  holy  state  of  their  children  by  baptism;  let 
them,  in  spirit,  and  conversation,  and  example,  go  counter 
to  the  authorized  instructions  of  their  minister;  let  baptized 
adults  and  communicants  be  anxious,  rather  to  get  low 
views  of  their  obligations,  than  make  high  advances  in  the 
christian  life;  let  them  lose  sight  of  their  commanding  atti- 
tude as  "God's  peculiar  people,"*  and  live  as  those  who 
have  "no  inheritance  in  the  kingdom  of  Christ  and  of 
God;"6  let  the  few  in  a  parish,  to  whom  God  hath  given 
power  to  control  the  man}*,  employ  that  power  against  the 
teaching  of  Christ's  embassadors;  let  them  encourage  the 
young  and  dependent  in  doctrines  or  in  ways  against  which 
they  are  warned  by  those  commissioned  to  warn  them;c  and 
how  surely,  except  as  God  may  interpose  his  mighty  hand, 
will  the  ministry  of  Christ,  as  regards  its  rightful  influence, 
become  of  none  effect  unto  the  people.  Tremendous  is 
the  responsibility  which  he  assumes,  who  utters  a  word,  or 
puts  forth  a  linger,  to  impede  the  progress  of  the  work  of 
salvation  committed  to  the  embassadors  of  Christ;  while 
but  little  less  is  his  responsibility,  who  exerts  not  every  en- 
ergy for  its  advance!  Beloved  Brethren,  consider,  I  pray 
you,  the  true  character  and  weight  of  your  christian  voca- 
tion; how  it  obliges  you;  to  live  only  for  Christ;  how  it  con- 
secrates your  talents,  your  time,  your  substance,  your  in- 
fluence, to  his  cause;  consider,  if  ye  were  bound  together 
in  love,  and  made  to  strive  tooether  for  the  faith  of  the 
Gospel,  by  that  heavenly  charity,  which  united,  and  ani- 
mated, and  emboldened,  and  bore  onward,  through  suffer- 
ing and  death,  the  first  believers  in  Christ, — what  glorious 

a  Tit.  ii.  14;  1  Pet.  ii.  9.    b  Eph.  v.  5. 

c  A  Layman  may  have  a  right  to  think  for  himself,  in  matters  which  he  regard* 
ind-ffcrent;'w\\\\e  lie" has  no  right  to  think  for  others.  A  large  portion  of  every  parish 
is  made  up  of  persons  who,  from  ignorance  or  infirmity,  depend  for  guidance  upon  their 
minister.  If,  however,  his  influence  here  may  be  lawfully  counteracted  by  Lay-teaching, 
his  olhce  is  vain,  and  this  class  of  persons  have  no  security. 


24 


raid  rapid  achievements  ye  might  now  make  for  His  King- 
dom! 

3.  But  there  are  other  ways  in  which  the  Laity  may 
co-operate  with  the  Clergy  in  advancing  Christ's  kingdom. 
When  a  Clergyman  is  called  to  a  parish,  he  is  too  com- 
monly expected  to  give  his  personal  oversight  to  every  in- 
terest connected  with  his  charge.  Hence  his  time  is  often 
consumed  and  his  strength  exhausted  in  attention  to  small 
matters, — perhaps  the  mere  temporalities  of  the  Church, — 
while  he  needs  both  his  time  and  strength,  in  their  fullest 
measure,  for  the  discharge  of  his  peculiar  functions — his 
high  spiritual  duties.  These  things,  Brethren  of  the  Laity, 
ought  not  so  to  be.  To  you,  as  "our  helpers  in  Christ," 
belong  a  variety  of  matters  pertaining  to  the  ministrations 
of  the  Gospel,  but  comparatively  secular,  and  intolerably 
burdensome,  when  allowed  to  rest  upon  the  hands  of  your 
minister; — such,  for  example,  as  attention  to  Church  build- 
ings; the  preservation  of  order  in  time  of  public  worship; 
the  raising  of  funds,  and  the  collecting  of  charities;  aiding 
in  the  support  and  instruction  of  the  poor;  supplying  to  the 
parish  almoners  and  catechists,  tracts  and  books. 

To  secure  this  co-operation,  the  Church  has  placed  in 
each  parish  an  organized  body,  styled  Wardens  and  Ves- 
trymen,a  whose  duty  it  is  to  give  their  active  agency  for 
the  accomplishment  of  the  things  I  have  named,  with  o- 
thers  of  like  character.  Besides,  the  Laity  are  associated 
with  the  Clergy  in  all  the  important  interests  and  councils 
of  the  Church; — in  our  Diocesan  Committees  and  Conven- 
tions; in  our  general  boards  of  Missions  and  Theological 
Education,  and  Sunday  School  instruction;  and  in  our 
great  National  Synod,  "the  General  Convention."  Here 
the  Laity  have  a  right  to  be  heard.    Here  the  Church  ha* 

a  See  Charge  of  Bp.  Raveii5croft  on  duties  of  Wardens  and  Vestrymen. 


a  right  to  look  for  their  counsel  and  support.  And  If,  at 
any  time,  through  their  neglect  of  the  duties  here  involved, 
too  much  power  should  seem  to  centre  in  the  hands  of  the 
Clergy,  the  fault  surely  is  not  with  them.  The  true  rem- 
edy against  any  encroachment  upon  .our  rights  from  o- 
thers,  is  faithfully  to  exercise  them  ourselves.  Let  each 
order  be  animated  with  the  love  of  Christ;  then  each,  in 
Ins  proper  sphere,  will  vie  with  the  other  in  promoting  the 
kingdom  of  Christ,  and  all  will  be  harmony  and  peace. 

4.  A  further,  and  still  more  pressing  duty,  remains  to 
the  Laity, — the  duty  of  praying  for  God's  blessing  upon 
the  persons  and  labours  of  the  Clergy.  "Brethren,  pray 
for  us,"«  is  the  earnest  request  of  St.  Paul;  and  a  more  im- 
portant one  cannot  be  made  by  ministers  of  the  Gospel  in 
any  age; — important,  in  respect  both  to  themselves  and  to 
their  people.  To  themselves,  as  sinful,  erring,  and  depend- 
ent creatures,  "not  worthy  that  God  should  come  under 
their  roof,"^  but  put  in  charge  with  the  Gospel  of  His 
grace,  and  made  accountable  for  the  souls  of  men. 
To  their  people,  as  receiving  the  overtures  of  pardon  and 
salvation,  amid  a  thousand  distractions  and  deceits,  calcu- 
lated to  blind  their  understandings,  and  betray  them  into 
error  and  sin.  Prayer  is  here  heaven's  own  appointed 
remedy.  Let  our  congregations  be  habituated  fervently 
to  supplicate  for  God's  guidance  to  their  minister,  and  God's 
spirit  upon  his  ministrations;  and  with  what  altered  feel- 
ings— what  increased  preparation  of  heart  for  hearing  the 
word,  will  they  take  their  place  under  his  instructions. 
Yea,  let  them  enter  the  house  of  God  as  miserable  sinners, 
desirous  of  being  taught  more  perfectly  the  way  of  life;  of 
being  enlightened,  and  strengthened,  and  sanctified,  by  "the 
truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus;"c  and  when  listening  to  the  blessed 

a  1  The;43.  v.  25.    b  Minister';}  prayer  at  his  institution,    c  Eph,  iv,  21. 
4 


26 


words  of  that  truth,  let  their  hearts  be  raised  in  prayer  to 
God,  that  these  words  may  come  with  saving  power  to 
their  own  souls,  and  to  the  souls  of  their  fellow-worship- 
pers;— and  with  what  a  different  spirit  and  changed  as- 
pect, they  would  leave  the  sanctuary  of  the  Most  High! 
The  smile  of  incredulity,  the  jest  of  profanity,  the  display 
of  thoughtless  criticism,  would  at  once  give  place  to  the  in- 
quiry, on  the  one  hand,  "what  shall  I  do  to  be  saved?"0  on 
the  other,  "what  shall  I  render  unto  the  Lord  for  all  his 
benefits'!"6  For  your  own  sakes,  then,  dear  Brethren  of  the 
Laity,  and  for  our  sakes,  "pray  for  us!" 

My  reverend  Brethren,  fellow  laborers  with  me  in  the 
dispensation  of  the  Gospel,  ours  is  a  holy  and  divine  office; 
it  becomes  us  to  magnify  it  before  God.    Its  powers  are 
peculiar  and  well  defined,  bestowed  for  the  salvation  of 
men.    As  a  holy  trust,  then,  committed  to  us  by  God,  we 
are  firmly  and  boldly  to  exercise  them.    Necessity  is  laid 
upon  us;  we  have  no  choice.    Clothed  with  authority  from 
God  to  advance  His  Gospel,  we  must  not,  as  we  value  His 
favour,  as  we  value  the  souls  of  men,  yea,  and  our  own 
souls  also,  yield  this  authority,  whatever  may  be  the  de- 
mand.   "A  dispensation  of  the  Gospel  is  committed  to  us, 
and  wo  be  unto  us  if  we  j) reach  not  the  Gospel!"0  Preach 
it,  "whether  men  will  hear,  or  whether  they  will  for- 
bear;"^ preach  it,  "through  evil   report  and  good  re- 
port;"e  preach  it,  if  need  be,  in  privation,  and  suffering,  and 
the  face  of  death;  and  we  must  preach  it  in  its  integrity 
and  fullness;  "declare  the  whole  counsel  of  God;"/  keep 
back  nothing  that  is  profitable,  nothing  that-  is  revealed,  at 
whatever  cost.    Misconstruction,  reproach,  and  ingrati- 
tude, must  not  deter  us.    "The  disciple  is  not  above  his 
master,  nor  the  servant  above  his  Lord."»    If  they  derided, 

a  Acta,  xvi.  CO.    b  Ps.  cxvi.  12.    c  1  Cor.  ix.  16,  17.    dEzk.  iii.  11.    i%  Cor.  vi. 
8,  /Acts.  xx.  27.   g  Mat.  x.  24. 


27 


set  at  naught,  and  persecuted  unto  death,  the  holy  Jesus; 
if  opposition,  and  suffering,  and  blood,  marked  the  foot- 
steps of  the  blessed  Apostles;  if  the  foundations  of  the  holv 
Catholic  Church  were  laid  amid  the  fires  and  groans  of 
martyrdom; — what  is  there  in  our  day  of  general  peace 
and  good  fellowship,  to  make  us  shun  "to  declare  all  the 
counsel  of  God?"  Our  efforts  may  be  feeble,  our  success 
small;  still,  if  they  be  faithful  efforts,  put  forth  in  the  strenth 
of  God,  and  with  an  honest  and  steadfast  desire  to  advance 
His  glory, — our  hearts  need  not  be  troubled;  "we  shall  reap 
in  due  time,  if  we  faint  not."a  We  now  enjoy  the  prayers 
of  the  faithful,  the  succour  of  angels,  the  deep  sympathy  of 
departed  saints,  and  the  smiles  of  an  approving  God;  and 
when  our  labours  and  trials  are  past,  heaven  will  be  our 
eternal  reward. 

But,  my  reverend  Brethren,  it  becomes  us  to  act  with 
prudence,  as  well  as  boldness;  to  remember  that  the  infir- 
mities of  a  corrupt  and  erring  nature  still  hang  around  us, 
and  endanger  the  success  of  oar  holy  mission.  It  will  not 
be  enough,  that  we  can  prove  the  validity  of  our  orders — 
can  claim  regard  on  the  ground  of  our  divine  commission; 
we  must  go  forth  in  the  spirit  and  with  the  bearing  of  messen- 
gers from  God;  must  learn  of  our  holy  master,  who,  though 
clothed  with  "all  power  in  heaven  and  earth,"  was  meek 
and  lowly  in  heart. b  Meekness  and  humility,  and  Godly 
sincerity,  will  do  far  more  to  ensure  submission  to  the  Gos- 
pel, than  the  most  fiery  zeal,  or  authoritative  tone  and 
manner.  Let  us  take  heed  unto  ourselves.  Our  danger 
is  great;  is  enhanced  by  the  very  position  we  occupy.  "We 
are  embassadors  for  Christ;"0  and  yet  are  associated  with 
the  Laitv  in  our  work,  and  stand,  in  some  respects,  on  the 
same  ground  with  them.    They  are  our  friends  and  com- 

a  Gal.  vi.  9.    b  Mat.  si.  29.    c  2  Cor.  v.  20. 


28 


panions  in  society  —interchanging  with  us  the  courtesies 
and  kindnesses  of  life.    In  a  laudable  anxiety  not  to  merge 
the  sacredness  of  our  calling  in  oar  friendly  intercourse, 
we  are  liable  to  confound  our  rights,  as  ministers  of  Christ, 
with  those  which  we  hold  in  common  with  the  Laity,  as 
members  of  society.    Our  commission  to  speak  with  au- 
thority in  the  Church  of  God,  and  to  exhort  and  reprove, 
if  necessary,  in  the  concerns  of  the  soul,  may  beget  in  us 
a  spirit  of  dictation,  in  all  places,  and  in  all  the  matters  of 
life;  and  also,  such  a  sensitiveness  to  opposition  as  may  lead 
us  10  imagine,  that  whenever  our  opinions  are  called  in 
question,  our  ministerial  prerogatives  are  lightly  esteemed. 
These  are  misjudgments,  against  which  we  must  guard,  or 
they  will  help  to  bring  about  the  very  resistance  we  so 
much  dread.    Besides,  in  respect  to  many  things  in  a  par- 
ish or  diocese,  essential  to  the  success  of  our  priestly  of- 
fice, the  Laity  have  a  deep  concern,  and  should  not  be 
expected  to  yield  a  blind  acquiescence  to  our  judgments. 
In  all  cases  where  duties  are  distinctly  assigned  them,  they 
should  be  left  unembarrassed  in  their  action.    And  in 
those  cases  in  which  they  are  called  to  bear  a  part  with 
us,  their  views  should  be  patiently  considered;  their  coun- 
sel respectfully  listened  to,  and,  if  sound,  most  gladly  fol- 
lowed.   It  becomes  us  to  bear  in  mind  a  former  proposi- 
tion— that  our  efforts,  although  put  forth  under  different 
degrees  of  authority,  are  in  a  common  cause,  and,  if  law- 
ful, tend  to  the  same  result;  and  hence  that  everything 
should  be  characterized  by  mutual  confidence,  meekness 
and  love;  that  from  the  host  of  God,  all  jealousy,  suspicion, 
and  hasty  judgment,  should  be  banished  forever;  and,  "each 
esteeming  others  better  than  themselves,"  yield  to  the  sway 
of  that  heavenly  charity  which  suftercth  long  and  is  kind, 
— to  the  constraint  cf  those  holv  bonds  "which  knit  toge- 


29 


ther  the  elect  of  Cod  in  one  communion  arid  fellowship." 

Finally,  my  brethren  in  the  sacred  ministry,  we  are  not 
exempt  from  the  influence  of  selfish  and  corrupt  passion. 
Love  of  power,  mortified  pride,  feelings  of  revenge,  and 
the  like,  may  prompt  us  in  the  assertion  of  even  lawful  au- 
thority.   O,  let  us  humble  ourselves  before  God,  and  pray 
mightily  for  His  saving  strength,  that  we  be  not  chargeable 
with  so  dreadful  a  desecration  of  our  office;  with  the  guilt 
of  using  our  authority  4ito  destruction,  and  not  to  salva- 
tion!"a    Our  only  safety,  beloved,  is  at  the  foot  of  the  Cross. 
At  the  foot  of  the  Cross,  in  humility  of  heart,  for  our  great 
unworthiness  of  so  holy  a  trust;  in  contrition  of  heart,  for 
our  manifold  unfaithfulness  in  fulfilling  it.    At.  the  foot  of 
the  Cross,  in  continual  and  earnest  contemplation  of  the 
awful  sacrifice,  oblation,  and  satisfaction,  there  made  for 
sinners;  of  the  precious  blood  of  the  Son  of  God  there  pour- 
ed out  to  quench  the  burning  wrath  that  was  kindled  by 
their  sins.    At  the  foot  of  the  Cross,  in  humble  and  unceas- 
ing prayer  for  ourselves,  and  intercession  for  our  spiritual 
charge.    At  the  foot  of  the  Cross,  learning  of  Him,  whose 
place  we  occupy,  and  whose  message  we  bear;  that  His 
all-powerful  love  may  constrain  us  in  every  act,  and  his  di- 
vine energy  nerve  us  for  every  difficulty  and  every  trial,  and 
keep  us  steadfast  and  immovable  even  unto  the  end.    Come , 
my  young  brethren,  about  to  assume  vows, — too  holy,  too 
great,  for  all  but  Omnipotence, — come,  and  let  us  cast  our- 
selves together  at  the  foot  of  the  Cross!     There,  let  us  take 
refuge,  and  abide;  for  there,  we  shall  be  safe:  there,  find  wis- 
dom and  strength;  there,  rest  under  the  blessing  of  God,  in 
the  sanctuarv  of  his  endless  favour, — his  ineffable  love. 


a  OtRce  fur  consecraiing  Bishops, 


30 


O  Christ,  hear  us*. 
Lord,  have  mercy  upon  us. 
Christ,  have  mercy  upon  us. 
Lord,  have  mercy  upon  us. 


Most  merciful  Father,  we  beseech  Thee,  send  upon  the 
ministers  of  the  sanctuary  thy  heavenly  blessing;  that  they 
may  be  clothed  with  righteousness,  and  that  Thy  word, 
spoken  by  their  mout  hs,  may  have  such  success  that  it  may 
never  be  spoken  in  vain.  Grant  also,  that  we  may  have 
grace  to  hear  and  receive  what  they  shall  deliver  out  of  Thy 
most  Holy  Word,  or  agreeably  to  the  same,  as  the  means  of 
our  salvation;  that  in  all  our  words  and  deeds,  we  may  seek 
Thy  glory,  and  the  increase  of  Thy  kingdom,  through  Je- 
sus Christ  our  Lord.  Amen. 


